trenchant

IPA/ˈtrentʃənt/
KK[trˈɛntʃənt]IPA/ˈtrentʃənt/

trenchant — adjective

  • trenchantpositive
  • more trenchantcomparative
  • most trenchantsuperlative

1. A trenchant statement or piece of writing makes its point with great force and c

1.形容詞C1
釋義

A trenchant statement or piece of writing makes its point with great force and clarity, often by delivering strong disapproval without softening the message.

例句

The journalist's trenchant article accused the mayor of ignoring public opinion.

collocation: trenchant article

In her speech to parliament, Beatrix offered a trenchant critique of the new tax plan.

collocation: trenchant critique

同義詞
  • scathing

    more emotionally intense and damaging in tone; scathing criticism attacks with anger, while trenchant criticism is forceful but controlled

  • incisive

    similar in force and clarity, but incisive can be neutral or positive, while trenchant usually implies disapproval

  • blistering

    suggests a very harsh, angry attack rather than a clear and effective argument

反義詞
  • mild

    gentle and restrained, the opposite of forceful or severe

  • bland

    lacking strong character or critical edge

文法句型

trenchant + noun (criticism, article, review, comment, analysis)

用法筆記

Subject is usually a piece of speech or writing — an article, review, editorial, comment, or critique. The word describes forceful but considered criticism; it does not mean merely insulting or rude.

常見錯誤

❌The teacher's trenchant joke made everyone laugh.
✅The teacher's trenchant criticism made everyone think.
💡Trenchant describes sharp, forceful commentary, not light humour.
❌He made a trenchant face when he tasted the lemon.
✅He wrote a trenchant review of the restaurant.
💡Trenchant applies to language and ideas, not physical expressions.

2. relating to a person's ability to think or perceive in a way that is unusually c

2.形容詞C1
釋義

relating to a person's ability to think or perceive in a way that is unusually clear, deep, and sharp, cutting straight to the essential truth of a subject.

例句

The detective's trenchant observations solved a case that had remained open for months.

collocation: trenchant observations

Arjun impressed everyone with his trenchant analysis of the election results.

collocation: trenchant analysis

同義詞
  • penetrating

    very close in meaning; penetrating suggests going deep into a subject, while trenchant suggests a combination of depth and sharpness

  • acute

    suggests sharp perception of fine details; more commonly used for senses (acute hearing) and intelligence

  • perceptive

    broader and more everyday; perceptive means quick to notice or understand, without the formal, cutting edge of trenchant

反義詞
  • dull

    lacking sharpness of perception or understanding

  • shallow

    lacking depth or thoroughness of thought

文法句型

trenchant + noun (observation, analysis, mind, understanding, interpretation)

用法筆記

Describes a person's intellectual faculties or judgements — their observations, analysis, mind, or understanding. It is less commonly used directly for the person (a trenchant thinker) and more for the quality of their thinking.

常見錯誤

❌Dogs have a trenchant sense of smell.
✅The critic showed a trenchant understanding of modern art.
💡Trenchant describes mental sharpness, not literal physical senses.
❌The knife has a trenchant blade.
✅She offered a trenchant analysis of the problem.
💡The literal meaning of 'cutting' is now very rare in English; modern use is almost always figurative.